All eyes on Modi foreign policy
Japan PM conveys wishes to Modi
● Japanese PM Shinzo Abe has conveyed his congratulations to PM-designate Narendra Modi for his win
The man who chose to give himself the “outsider” tag is all set to head the Indian government. And not just the country but the world is curious for the man who will be the country’s new Prime Minister, Narednra Modi, to unveil his foreign policy approach.
Those in the government, experts and even Mr Modi’s close aide Amit Shah concede that a change in government does not entail a drastic change in the foreign policy. However, what will be carefully watched is any recalibration in approach that a Modi- led government may effect, particularly in relation to countries like China, the US, and Pakistan. While this is not expected to happen overnight, the manner in which a Modi- led government will engage with the world at large and India’s immediate neighbours will be closely watched.
Particularly, as his government is expected to adopt a “muscular” approach that will keep in mind India’s security and strategic concerns.
Among Mr Modi’s immediate foreign policy challenges, undoubtedly, will be Indo- Pak ties that have been in a state of friction ever since the beheading of an Indian soldier on the LoC in January 2013. The peace dialogue has remained stalled since and both sides would eventually like to resume the peace process. However, like the UPA, Mr Modi too, just before his party’s victory, had emphasised that there is a “trust deficit” between the two neighbours. Further, like the UPA, he’d said that for a meaningful relationship, India’s neighbour needs to take “effective and demonstrable action against the terror networks operating from its soil”. Coupled with what Amit Shah said about “desh ka samman, desh ki suraksha ( respect for the country and ensuring its security)”, it seems that the BJP government will play hardball with Pakistan, at least initially. And yet, as a senior official remarked, “We need to talk eventually. For there can be no resolution of issues without talking.”
As for the dragon in the neighbourhood, China, Mr Modi has engaged with it closely as the Gujarat chief minister, having visited it four times. However, as PM, his bonhomie with the Chinese may take a backseat as New Delhi watches with concern Beijing’s growing foot- prints in the region and beyond.
Arunachal, which China claims as its own and the unresolved Line of Actual Control ( LAC), remain vexatious issues between the two countries.